Furniture leg



y 1959 E. F. HEALY 2,884,995

FURNITURE LEG Filed March 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/VVE/VTOR ELTON F HEAL) ATTORNEYS E. F. HEALY FURNITURE LEG May 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3, 1955 l/Vl/E/V 701? EL TON F HEALY ATTORNEYS United States This application relates to furniture and particularly to new and improved removable legs therefor.

An important object of the present invention is to provide new and improved detachable furniture legs and more particularly furniture legs made from sheet metal, a flat blank of sheet metal being suitably formed to provide a rigid hollow furniture leg.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furniture leg of the type set forth which is ornamental, easily formed and has superior structural strength.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a furniture leg of the type set forth in which novel means are provided for assembling the various parts to provide a structurally strong leg having pleasing appearance with the major portion of the assembly members concealed from sight.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a furniture leg of the type set forth an improved glide structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings wherein like reference numeral have been utilized to designate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture to which the improved leg of the present invention has been applied;

Figure 2 is an exploded view with certain parts broken away illustrating the manner of assembly of the furniture leg of the present invention;

Figure 3' is a view in vertical section through an assembled furniture leg made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a view of the furniture leg as seen from the bottom and in the direction of the arrows along the line 44 of Figure 3, certain parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section illustrating the manner of attaching the glide to the furniture leg and substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 6--6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a view in horizontal section substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 77 of Figure 3;

' Figure 8 is a view in horizontal section through the body of the leg substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 8-8 of Figure 3;

' Figure 9 is a view on a reduced scale of the blank from which the body of the improved leg of this invention is formed;

Figure 10 is a view showing the blank from which the body of the leg is formed in position on a bending mandrel preparatory to folding the leg into final shape;

7 Figure 11 is a view in vertical section substantially as atent ice seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 11-11 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the parts in a position in which the leg body is partially formed; and

Figure 13 is a view also similar to Figure 11 showing the parts in the position after the leg body has been fully formed.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a couch generally designated by the numeral 20 having applied thereto legs 22 made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention.

There is shown in Figure 2 an exploded view of the various parts of the leg 22. It is seen that the leg 22 includes a main body 24, a bottom mounting plate26, a top mounting plate 28, a glide base 30, a glide ring 32 and a plastic glide 34.

These various parts are assembled in a manner which will be described in full hereinafter to provide a structurally strong and artistically pleasing leg.

The body 24 is substantially circular in its various cross sections as can be best seen from Figure 8 and tapers from the top thereof to the bottom thereof as can be best seen in Figure 3. In the form of leg shown, the body 24 is essentially in the form of a truncated right cone but it is to be understood that other conical sec-' tions and particularly conical sections other than right angular sections may be used. From Figure 8 it is seen that the body 24 is formed by suitably shaping a piece of sheet material into desired form so that the edges meet at the point 36. There are formed on the free edges at junction point 36 a short inwardly directed flange 38 and an elongated and inwardly extending flange 40. The flanges 38 and 40 serve to reinforce the leg, flange 40 particularly serving to reinforce the leg since it extends substantially across the entire diameter thereof.

The manner of forming body 24 is illustrated in Figures 9 through 13 of the drawings. A blank 42 shaped as illustrated in Figure 9 is first formed and includes a central portion 44 and a pair of tabs which form flanges 38 and 40 and accordingly are so numbered. One edge of central portion 44 is formed arcuate and carries a plurality of tongues 46. Formed on the opposite arcuate edge of central portion 44 is another set of tongues 48. After the blank 42 is formed, flange 40 is bent at an angle of with respect to the central portion 44 and flange 38 is bent in the same direction as flange 40 and at an acute angle of 60 with respect to the plane of central portion 44.

After flanges 38 and 40 have been bent as described above, it is desired to fold the flange 42 into conical shape. To this end there is provided a right conical mandrel 50 having a slot 52 therein to receive flange 40. In order to hold flange 40 in operative position on mandrel 50, flange 40 is provided with a pair of apertures 54 which receive positioning pins 56 extending into slot 52 on mandrel 50. Spaced from mandrel 50 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of blank 52 is a forming member 58 which bends blank 42 into the proper shape when mandrel 50 is rotated therepast. At the end of the forming step the flange 38 enters the slot 52 as shown in Figure 13. Slot 52 is of suflicient width to permit flange 40 to be disengaged from pins 56 after which the formed body 24 can be removed from mandrel 50.

In order to insure that the finished leg body 24 is conical in shape, the edges of central portion 44 on which are formed tongues 46 and 48 are formed particircular in shape. When the blank 42 is so shaped, forming upon mandrel 50 will produce a body 24 which is a section of a right circular cone and tongues 46 will Patented May 5, 1959 have their outer ends lying in the same plane and tongues 48 will have their ends lying in a single plane.

As may be best seen in Figure 2 bottom mounting plate 26 is substantially square in shape and is provided with a plurality of circular apertures 60, 62, 64 and 66 in the corners thereof. Formed between apertures 60 and 62 is a slot 68 part-circular in shape and adapted to receive one of the tongues 46. The material of plate 26 positioned between slot 68 and the adjacent edge of the plate is recessed downwardly as seen in Figure 2 at 70 whereby the associated tongue 46 can be bent over with the upper surface thereof lying in the same plane as the upper surface of plate 26. A similar slot 72 is formed between apertures 60 and 66 and a portion of plate 26 between slot 72 and the edge of the plate is deformed downwardly as at 74 whereby one of the tongues 46 on body 24 can extend through slot 72 and upon being bent outwardly will have its upper surface in the same plane as the upper surface of plate 26.

When body 24 is formed, two tongues 46 lie adjacent each other as is best seen in Fig. 7 and in order to accommodate these two adjacent tongues an elongated arcuate slot 76 is formed in mounting plate 26 adjacent the corner in which is formed aperture 64. The portion of plate 26 positioned between slot 76 and the edge of plate 26 is deformed downwardly as at 77 whereby tongues 46 will be positioned with the upper surface thereof flush with the upper surface of .plate 26. Aperture 64 has an upstanding flange 78 formed therearound, the upper edge of flange 78 lying in the same plane as the top of plate 26.

Formed in the geometrical center of plate 26 is another aperture 80 which receives a bolt having an enlarged head 82 and a threaded shank 84. A portion of shank 84 positioned above mounting plate 26 is upset as at 86 whereby to lock the bolt on bottom mounting plate 26. The upper end of flange 40 is cut away as at 87 to accommodate bolt head 82.

Bottom mounting plate 26 is fastened to body 24 by means of the tongues 46. More specifically the tongues 46 are inserted upwardly through slots 68, 72 and 76 and are then bent outwardly to a position best illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. It will be seen that plate 26 closes the upper end of body 24 and holds body 24 in proper conical shape. The upper surfaces of the bent portions of tongues 46 lie in the same plane as the upper surface of bottom mounting plate 26 due to the presence of the recessed plate portions 70, 74 and 77.

In order to cover the tongues 46 and to more firmly lock the tongues in the bent assembled position, the top mounting plate 28 is provided. Plate 28 is preferably of the same general outline as plate 26 and in the form shown is square. An enlarged aperture 88 is formed in the center thereof to receive the threaded shank 84 and to accommodate the upset portions 86 of shank 84. In each corner of plate 28 is formed an aperture 90, each aperture 90 having an extrusion 92 formed on the portion of the plate defining the aperture. Extrusions are adapted to extend downwardly through apertures 60, 62, 64 and 66 and are of suflicient length that they can be peened over as at 94 to lock plates 26 and 28 in assembled position. After plates 26 and 28 have been locked in assembled position, the tongues 46 are in turn firmly locked in the bent assembled position and therefore cannot be withdrawn from engagement with thetnounting plates 26 and 28.

The glide assembly includes the glide base 30, the glide ring 32 and the plastic guide 34. Glide base 30 is preferably circular and has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the bottom end of body 24. Formed in glide base 30 are two part-circular slots 96 and 98 and a longer part-circular slot 100. Each of slots 96 and 98 is adapted to receive one of the bottom tongues 48 and the elongated circular slot 100 is adapted to receive a pair of tongues 48 which are positioned close to each other on opposite sides of the junction 36.

The glide ring 32 is originally a cylindrical piece of metal having an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of glide base 30 whereby to receive glide base 30 therein. A subassembly of the glide base and the glide ring is formed by turning the ends of glide ring 32 inwardly as at 102 so that the diameter at the ends is less than the diameter of glide base 30 whereby to trap glide base 30 within glide ring 32. The subassembly of the glide base and the glide ring is then positioned on body 24 so that the tongues 48 are received in the part-circular slots 96, 98 and 100. Tongues 48 are then bent inwardly toward the center of glide base 30 to the position illustrated best in Figure 5. Flange 40 is cut away as at 101 and flange 38 is cut away as at 103 to insure easy assembly of glide base 30 and glide ring 32 on body 24.

The plastic glide 34 preferably has a plane upper surface 104 and a curved lower surface 106. The diameter of the upper surface 104 is less than the largest inner diameter of glide ring 32 but larger than the diameter at point 102. A clear deformable plastic is the preferred material for forming glide 34 and this construction permits glide 34 to be snapped into position after the assembly of the glide base and glide ring on the bottom of body 24.

The body 24 is preferably formed of relatively light gauge sheet metal for example stainless steel or aluminum, anodized aluminum being a preferred material of construction. Guide ring 32 is formed of a similar material or may be formed of brass for decorative contrast. As has been explained above the glide 34 is preferably formed of plastic. The remaining parts may be of the same materials or of ordinary steel. The leg when fully assembled is decorative and presents a pleasing appearance, all of the elements holding the leg together being hidden from view.

One preferred manner of assembling the completed leg 22 on a piece of furniture is shown in Figure 3. Threaded shank 84 extends through an aperture in one of the furniture frame members 108 and is provided with a washer 110 and a complementarily threaded nut 112. These members are sufficient to mount leg 22 firmly on the furniture frame member 108.

An alternative manner of mounting the leg 22 on a piece of furniture is to put bolts or screws through apertures into the furniture frame member. This mount may be used when the requirements for structural strength are such as to permit usage of this manner of assembly.

It will be seen that there has been provided a furniture leg which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration it is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly the invention is to be limited only as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A furniture leg comprising a hollow sheet metal body, a plurality of tongues formed on the upper end of said body, a first mounting plate having apertures therein and receiving said tongues, said tongues being bent over and overlying depressed portions of said first mounting plate to interconnect said body and said first mounting plate, and a second mounting plate attached to said first mounting plate and covering said tongues to conceal said tongues and to prevent withdrawal 'of said tongues from said first mounting plate.

2. A furniture leg comprising a hollow sheet metal body, a plurality of tongues formed on one end of said body, a first mounting plate having apertures therein receiving said tongues, said tongues being bent over and overlying depressed portions of said first mounting plate whereby the exposed surface of said tongues lie in a common plane with the surface of said mounting plate disposed away from said body, and a second mounting plate positioned on said first mounting plate and overlying said tongues to conceal said tongues and to prevent withdrawal of said tongues from the apertures in said first mounting plate.

3. A furniture leg comprising a conical hollow sheet metal body, a plurality of tongues formed on the larger end of said body and extending therefrom, a first mounting plate covering the larger end of said body and having apertures therein receiving said tongues, portions of said first mounting plate adjacent the apertures therein being deformed in a direction toward said body, said tongues being bent over to lie in said depressed portions so that the upper surface of said tongues lie in the same plane as the surface of said first mounting plate disposed away from said body, and a second mounting plate secured to said first mounting plate and overlying said tongues to conceal said tongues and to prevent withdrawal of said tongues from the apertures in said first mounting plate.

4. A furniture leg comprising a hollow sheet metal body, one end of said body having tongues formed thereon extending therefrom, a first mounting plate overlying said one end of said body and having a first set of apertures therein receiving said tongues, the portions of said first mounting plate adjacent said first apertures being deformed toward said body, said tongues being bent over into said depressed portions so that the upper surfaces thereof lie in the same plane as the surface of said first mounting member disposed away from said body, said first mounting plate having a second set of apertures formed therein, and a second mounting plate having projections formed thereon and extending through the second set of apertures in said first mounting plate, the ends of said projections being deformed to interconnect said first and second mounting plates whereby said second mounting plate conceals said tongues and prevents withdrawal of said tongues from the associated apertures in said first mounting plate.

5. A furniture leg as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first mounting plate has attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to said body 6 a threaded shank, said threaded shank extending through an aperture in the second mounting plate and adapted to connect the leg to a piece of furniture.

6. A furniture leg comprising a hollow sheet metal body, means formed on one end of said body to attach said body to a piece of furniture, a plurality of tongues formed on the other end of said body, a glide base having a plurality of apertures therein to receive said tongues, a glide ring surrounding said glide base, and a glide secured by said glide ring and covering said glide base.

7. A furniture leg comprising a hollow sheet metal body, means formed on one end of said body to attach said body to a piece of furniture, the other end of said body being circular and having tongues formed thereon and extending therefrom, a circular glide base having a diameter greater than the diameter of said other end and having apertures formed therein to receive said tongues, said tongues being bent over to secure said glide base to said body, a substantially cylindrical glide ring having an internal diameter at the center thereof slightly greater than the diameter of said glide base and having an internal diameter less than the diameter of said glide base to secure said glide ring on said glide base, and a circular plastic glide having a maximum diameter greater than the diameter of the end of said glide ring and less than the diameter of said glide base, said diameter of said glide being positioned within said glide ring and said glide having a portion thereof extending outwardly from said glide ring in a direction opposite to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,559,699 Herold Nov. 3, 1925 1,674,661 Pleister et al. June 26, 1928 1,932,249 Noelting Oct. 24, 1933 2,401,542 Booth June 4, 1946 2,453,090 Guild et al. Nov. 2, 1948 2,474,668 Herbolsheimer June 28, 1949 2,527,603 Wallace Oct. 31, 1950 2,718,052 Dexter Sept. 20, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,486 Australia May 9, 1940 

